PM helps launch road safety campaign

This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Prime Minister David Cameron was joined by racing drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button yesterday to launch a global effort to save five million lives and prevent 50 million serious injuries on the world's roads.

The Prime Minister was joined by the Formula 1 Champions in Downing Street to mark the launch of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety in the UK and countries around the world.

The United Nations is calling for urgent action to combat road deaths, which are set to become a bigger killer than HIV/AIDs over the next 10 years. Road crashes are now the number one killer of young people over 10 years old both in the UK and around the world.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

Every six seconds, someone is killed or seriously injured on the world’s roads. Addressing this must be an urgent priority for the international community.

In the United Kingdom, we have managed to make our roads amongst the safest in the world. Yet, despite this road accidents are still the leading cause of death for British teenagers and young adults - with the loss of six or seven people in road crashes every day.

That’s why I’m adding my voice to all those across the world who are coming together in support of the launch of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Lewis Hamilton the 2008 F1 World Champion said we need to support the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety “so that we can save millions of lives”.

Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 World Champion said:

It’s a tragedy that so many people are killed and injured just because simple safety measures are not in place.

On the race circuit I rely on my helmet, seatbelt, the safety features of the car and the track working together to help reduce the risk of injury. It should be the same on the public roads in every country - safer cars, safer roads, education and better enforcement. No excuses. Starting from today, we must all take action.

All around the world across time zones from New Zealand to Mexico, major national events are being held to launch the UN Decade of Action with hundreds of thousands of people wearing the road safety Tag.